City councilor Wu Yi-jheng to represent TPP in Kaohsiung mayoral race

Taipei, June 23 (CNA) Kaohsiung City Councilor Wu Yi-jheng (吳益政) will represent the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), established by Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) last August, to run in the upcoming Kaohsiung mayoral by-election to be held Aug. 15, the party announced Tuesday.

After Kaohsiung residents voted overwhelmingly June 6 to recall Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), the TPP proposed that the party and the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) should jointly field a candidate for the by-election.

However, following the KMT's confirmation that Kaohsiung City Councilor Li Mei-jhen (李眉蓁) will be the party's candidate in the by-election earlier Tuesday, the TPP decided to field Wu as its candidate.

Wu is currently a member of the People First Party, although he has now also joined the TPP.

Wu and Li will compete against former Vice Premier Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party for the Kaohsiung mayoral seat.